When Stipe Miocic suffered a knockout loss to Francis Ngannou at UFC 260 again in 2021, he thought a trilogy combat was inevitable.
Contemplating Miocic manhandled Ngannou of their first encounter three years earlier, it wasn’t a surprising request that he would get the rubber match to settle the trilogy. Sadly for Miocic, Ngannou ended up dealing with Ciryl Gane as a substitute 9 months later, aggravated a knee harm within the course of after which sat out to get well from surgical procedure earlier than coming into free company.
In the long run, Ngannou surrendered the UFC heavyweight title and opted to signal with the PFL whereas additionally crossing over to boxing for a pair of fights towards Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.
“I used to be making an attempt. I used to be making an attempt to get the rematch,” Miocic mentioned about pursuing the Ngannou trilogy when chatting with MMA Combating. “Then he left and it didn’t occur sadly.
“Hear, I’m a fighter. I don’t work for the UFC internally and [figuring] out matchmaking. It’s what they needed to do and it’s what they did.”
As a lot as Miocic needed that third combat towards Ngannou, he can’t fault the previous UFC heavyweight champion for opting to take a deal that will permit him to reside out his dream within the boxing ring and receives a commission a complete lot of cash to do it.
“Yeah after all [I was bummed] as a result of I needed the rubber match,” Miocic mentioned. “But additionally on the similar level, he’s doing higher for himself and his household. I’m not mad at him. He’s doing nice.”
In his two fights crossing over to boxing, Ngannou took Fury to a razor-close resolution loss after scoring a surprising knockdown on the previous heavyweight champion. Issues didn’t go as effectively towards Joshua after Ngannou suffered a pair of knockdowns earlier than being completed with a vicious punch within the second spherical.
Miocic, a Golden Gloves boxer in his youth, admits he didn’t watch each of Ngannou’s fights, however he was nonetheless proud to see his former rival getting the prospect to compete towards two of one of the best heavyweights within the sport.
“I noticed clips of it,” Miocic mentioned in regards to the boxing matches. “The primary one he did effectively with Fury and sadly the second didn’t go effectively with Joshua. Nevertheless it occurs. It’s preventing, something can occur.
“Some individuals mentioned he gained [against Fury]. I didn’t see the entire combat however lots of people mentioned he gained the combat. He put him down. He did quite a lot of issues. Hear, he satisfied that many individuals that he might [beat him]. Reveals that we are able to cling.”
Ngannou returned to MMA this previous October when he made quick work of Renan Ferreira in his PFL debut. As of now, he’s undecided on what comes subsequent.
With alternatives accessible in each boxing and MMA, Ngannou can basically decide or select no matter he desires to do, nevertheless it appears extremely unlikely {that a} return to the UFC ever occurs. Ngannou stays at odds with UFC CEO Dana White and seems joyful controlling his personal future.
Meaning there’s little to no probability that Miocic ever will get to settle the rating. As a lot as he as soon as needed the trilogy, he’s resolved in understanding that his rivalry with Ngannou ends at one win apiece.
“Hear, I’m OK with letting go,” Miocic mentioned. “I get it. As a lot as I’d like to combat him, I want him nothing however one of the best and it’s what it’s. We’re 1-1. That’s the way in which it will likely be. He obtained the final one sadly.”
